Let's be clear: Benitez wants every detail
finalised
Liverpool's American owners Tom
Hicks and George Gillett are set to make Rafa Benitez a third
contract offer this week - and they want it signed before next
Sunday's game against Manchester City.
Having won major concessions about control over transfers,
Benitez has sent back a second offer to the Americans, this time
querying his role with the club's academy.
Now the owners are trying to rush through further amendments,
believing any additional delay will hurt Liverpool as they battle
for the Premier League title.
A senior source said last night: 'The major points have been
agreed and we hope things will be finalised soon.' Benitez, who has
been offered a four-and-a-half-year deal which will earn him
£15million, has twice looked in detail at the offer.
Although his primary concern that he would have to report to
chief executive Rick Parry on transfer targets has been satisfied,
he wants it to be clear that he has overall responsibility for the
club's youth policy, too.
He is now waiting for a response, although the owners know they
will try to do that quickly.
Benitez originally set a deadline of November 30 to get a new
contract offer but later turned down the deal. He has always said
he wants full control of which players are bought and sold at
Liverpool, although he understands he will be given a budget.
It follows a contentious summer at Anfield, when £20m striker
Robbie Keane was signed but Benitez's No1 target Gareth Barry was
not, because of Aston Villa's £18m asking price.
Hicks and Gillett met Benitez two weeks ago and agreed he would
report to the board, rather than Parry, on transfers.
They also held informal talks with Aston Villa owner and fellow
American Randy Lerner, finding out that Benitez is only after the
powers that Martin O'Neill has at Villa Park.